The ultimate Wii, Xbox 360 and PS3 sales issue

I’ve never gotten close to being as wrapped up in “the console wars” as many other video-game bloggers.

I’ve had to cover the issue — or chosen to cover the issue — when the news developments were big enough or the twists and turns in the competition were interesting enough.

Yesterday, the results of April’s sales (see my previous post) offered significant news in the way the Wii stomped all over the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. But May’s results might add more perspective. The 360 and PS3 could show some extra life as the buzz around “Grand Theft Auto IV” spurs some hardware sales. I think that’s a pipe dream now, but I’ll wait and see before running wild with conclusions.

That said, the most important thing about the video-game industry’s business results is what they mean culturally. And we’re at the stage now where the enormous success of the Wii — as well as the multi-function power of the PS3 and Xbox 360, in their broad entertainment and online capabilities — changes the conversation.

My big question centers on what we can find out about the Wii’s inroads with brand new gamers. Is it really beginning to widen the demographics of gaming in a permanent way? And my secondary questions is about whether there’s any sizable new momentum for more game fans adopting online play as a core activity.

This is really a great time for game devotees, regardless of which console someone likes best. And the context is how powerful entertainment and pop culture are as social forces. I’ll keep tallying the stats from the console wars as necessary, but from here on my biggest focus will be on how the video-game consumer is changing, if at all.

Mike Antonucci

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I am a new recent owner of a PS3. My model is not backwards compatible to the PS2. I am 37 and I grew up with video games. I purchased the PS3 because it has 3 abilities which I enjoy. First of all it plays video games. Secondly, the console compliments my home theater in ways I am still appreciating. The HDMI, 5.1 surround, and support for 16:9 HD sets at 1080i is most impressive; given that I route all audio and video through the receiver. It also acts as a SACD player that can play out via HDMI. Gamers listen up, the audio is amazing; it really brings extra life to the amazing video. Thirdly it can play HiDef movies and I can install Linux on it if I want it to be a “PC”.

A1

A PS3 as a movie player and “PC”? Câ€˜mon just give me good ol gaming!! its Wii for me.

If only Wii had better games instead of the Nintendo first party games…

Justin

I agree with Juan. Wii game selection is terrible. There are a handful (4-5) games that are even worth the money. I don’t care about all the classic games, there have been emulators around on the internet for the past 15 years to play those. Selling my Wii and now trying to decide who the winner will be between the PS3 and XBOX 360

O.k i own all three, ps3 xbox and wii, the wii only comes out when we have friends/family round, older people who wouldn’t even look at a games console are suprised by the wii and a couple have purchased one after seeing ours, how often it used, i don’t know but i can’t imagine that often when the novelty wears off, plus theres all the housewives buying the wii for wii fit, they coined a market that playstation and xbox have ignored for years and are cashing in due to opening a console up to so many people. As far as xbox vs ps3, which is the real console war for proper gamers, i can see the xbox winnng this year, not because it’s a better console (it’s not, the ps3 is superior) but because of the credit crunch, people are more likely to spend £100 – £150 on a next gen console than £300 for a ps3 when money is tight,m when the economy recovers (if it does) then it might be a different story

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